Live news: Civil society, student bodies end Citizenship Bill stir in Mizoram after bill lapses in RS

Civil society groups and student organisations in Mizoram ended their protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill on Wednesday after the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die without the passage of the contentious legislation.

Vanlalruata, the chairman of the committee, said its members were rejoicing on streets.

"Our prayers have been heard. We congratulate the people of Mizoram, the civil societies and student organisations for their united opposition to the bill," he said.

The committee had been spearheading protests against the bill in Mizoram, with support from Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), the apex students' body in the state, and other organisations.

MZP president L Ramdinliana Renthlei said the "united efforts of the protesters in the northeast have finally paid off".

A senior police officer said the lapse of the bill was a "welcome relief" for the state as protests over it had led to fear and insecurity among the general public.

Had the legislation been passed by Rajya Sabha, it could have led to communal tension in the state, which has a sizeable Chakma population, he added.

Chakmas trace their roots to Bangladesh.

Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district on Wednesday, police said.

Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, was also recovered from the encounter site.

"Based on a credible input about the presence of terrorists in the Gopalpora area of Chadoora in Budgam district, a cordon and search operation was launched in the intervening night (of Tuesday and Wednesday)," a police spokesman said.

Security was beefed up in the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) after some students and a TV channel crew got into an altercation over reports of a planned visit by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, police said.

The Rapid Action Force was deployed around the campus as a precautionary measure amid other protests, including one in which a motorcycle belonging to a ABVP member was set on fire, a senior police officer said.

It was not immediately clear if this incident was also related to Owaisi's visit.

ABVP activists staged a protest near Faiz gate of the university after some media reports claimed the AIMIM leader was invited to address a function organised by the AMU Students' Union Tuesday.

They demanded that he be banned from entering the campus. Owaisi, however, did not turn up.

An AMU spokesman said a TV channel team, which had come to cover the anticipated event, had an altercation with some students while they were filming inside the campus.

The spokesman said the channel had not sought permission from authorities for live coverage and when university staff members pointed this out, there was a heated exchange in which some students were also involved.

The mediapersons claimed they were roughed up by some students while they were filming on the campus and their camera was smashed.

Mallikarjun Kharge on CAG report on Rafale deal to be presented before Parliament on Wednesday said, “Today we will come to know what is in that report. But they have already told SC what their intention is, in a sealed envelope. On its basis, they said in SC that there's no scam in prices. You can see that they (centre) are prejudiced who have already made a decision, so this report holds no value. Secondly, there is a conflict of interest. The man who was then a negotiator is now preparing the report. ”

Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted “The PM defended his personal RAFALE bypass deal on 2 counts; Better Price and Faster Delivery. Both have been demolished by the revelations in the Hindu.”

The CAG report on the Rafale deal is all set to be presented before the Parliament on Wednesday.

Rahul Gandhi will also be addressing a press conference at 3:30 on Wednesday.

Multiple Opposition parties have begun protesting against the Central government on Parliament premises. Trinamool Congress MPs protested by wearing black clothes, alleging misuse of the CBI by the Centre.

The Telugu Desam Party MPs also protested against the Central government in the Parliament premises, demanding special status to Andhra Pradesh.

Stepping up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale issue, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday cited a media report to claim that the PM's argument of better pricing and faster delivery of the jets to defend the deal has been "demolished".

His attack came after a report in The Hindu which claimed that the Rafale deal was not on "better terms" than the UPA-era offer.

The government has in the past rejected all such allegations and claims against the deal.

Three senior Defence Ministry officials who were the domain experts on the seven-member Indian Negotiating Team (INT) came to a "well-substantiated and clear conclusion" that the Narendra Modi government's new Rafale deal for 36 flyaway aircraft was not on "better terms" than the offer made by Dassault Aviation during the procurement process for 126 aircraft under the United Progressive Alliance government, the report in the English daily said.

Citing the report, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the "theft has been caught".

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at Congress parliamentary party meeting said, “Values, principles and provisions of Constitution under continued attack from Modi govt. Institutions have been subverted, political opponents hounded, dissent suppressed and freedom of speech sought to be silenced. There is an all-pervasive atmosphere of fear and strife across the country.”

The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave no relief to five activists named in the Bhima Koregaon caste violence case and set aside a Bombay High Court order allowing another 90 days to the Maharashtra Police to file charge sheet.

The five accused activists -- Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale, Mahesh Rout, Roma Wilson and Soma Sen -- will not be able to have the benefit of default as the apex court said they now must apply for regular bail.

A trial court had under the Unlawful Prevention Activities Act granted the Maharashtra Police additional 90 days time to file a charge sheet that was beyond a 90-day deadline under the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Raising slogans against the Narendra Modi government, Congress lawmakers protest outside Parliament on Wednesday over the Rafale deal.

Party president Rahul Gandhi led the demonstration in which Congress lawmakers were seen carrying paper planes and posters, alleging scam in the multi-crore fighter jet deal.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were also present in the protest near the Gandhi statue in Parliament complex.

The Punjab Police has arrested two men who had allegedly gang-raped a 21-year-old woman in Ludhiana district. Police officials said on Wednesday that raids were being conducted at various places by different police teams to nab the remaining accused.

Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar has been released by CBI in Shillong after 3 hours of questioning on Wednesday in connection with Saradha chit-fund scam. He is to return to Kolkata soon.

The Rajya Sabha was on Wednesday adjourned sine die after it passed some Bills including Interim Budget and Finance Bill for 2019-20 without debate. Whereas the Citizenship Amendment Bill and the Triple Talaq Bill lapsed.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu in his customary address at the close of the session rued that precious time of the House was lost in protests, stalling proceedings.

The Budget Session of Parliament commenced on January 31.

“We've said it earlier also, we‘re a part of grand alliance and will stay a part of it. We came to help Lalu ji when nobody did. We're no less than anyone; our contribution is more in grand alliance. There's no question of us joining the NDA,” said HAM leader Jitan Ram Manjhi on seat sharing

Normal life was hit in Kashmir on Wednesday due to a shutdown called by separatists to protest against the legal challenge to Article 35-A and Article 370 of the Constitution, which grant special privileges to Jammu and Kashmir. Petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutional validity of the articles.

As many as 12 students of the Aligarh Muslim University, including the university's students' union chief, were booked under sedition charges after a complaint of alleged assault was filed by an ABVP member. Following this a "boycott class" call was given.

The main approach road leading to the university campus at IG Khan crossing was closed by the police as a precautionary measure.

Official sources said internet services will be off in city as a precautionary measure.

Rapid Action Force was also deployed around the campus amid other protests, including one in which a motorcycle belonging to a ABVP member was set on fire, a senior police officer said.

It was not immediately clear if this incident was also related to Owaisi's visit.

Late last night, cases under sections 124-A (sedition), section 307 (attempt to murder) and eight other sections of the IPC have been registered against 12 students, including the president of students' union Salman Imtiaz and vice president Union Huzaifa Aamir on the complaint of ABVP activist Mukesh Lodhi.

He alleged that while he was driving across the AMU circle, these students surrounded him and launched a "murderous assault" and raised pro-Pakistan slogans.

AMU has issued an advisory to students, asking them "not to move out of campus as a precautionary measure".

Protests by legislators of the Samajwadi Party and the BSP over Akhilesh Yadav being stopped at the Lucknow airport eclipsed the Question Hour in the state Assembly on Wednesday.

The pre-lunch sitting saw two adjournments as opposition members vociferously raised the issue. Amid uproar, Speaker Hriday Narain Dixit adjourned the House first for 30 minutes and then for the entire Question Hour.

As soon as the House met, SP leader Narendra Verma tried to raised the issue during Question Hour.

One way traffic from Jammu on the highway connecting Srinagar was allowed on Wednesday, a day after the strategic road linking Kashmir with rest of the country was cleared of snow, officials said.

The resumption of traffic on the 270-km highway after seven days closure came as a major relief to the stranded passengers and the people of Kashmir who were facing shortage of essential commodities.

The officials said two workers and a policeman were injured on Tuesday when they were hit by stones from a hillock overlooking the highway at Maroog near Banihal.

Despite light snowfall and rains on Tuesday night, over 2,000 vehicles, including trucks carrying essentials like fuel, ration and vegetables, crossed Jawahar Tunnel after opening of the highway on Tuesday afternoon, they said.

Jawahar Tunnel area experienced a brief spell of snowfall last night, while light rains also lashed Banihal-Ramban stretch.

Rajasthan government on Wednesday introduced a bill in the Assembly to give a 5% quota in jobs and educational institutes to Gujjars and four other communities agitating for it.

Gujjar leaders were yet to call off their protest, saying they are awaiting a “concrete proposal” from the government, indicating that they wanted the bill to be passed first.

Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla and his supporters have blocked the railway tracks in Sawai Madhopur district and several highways, demanding the quota in government jobs and educational institutes.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi while addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party's general body meeting said, “We (Congress) are defeating the BJP in the ideological fight. We are defeating the BJP on the daily news cycle and the Congress Party is now, firmly entrenched in the mood and spirit of the people. So the common man today has realised that Narendra Modi is not what he had claimed to be, that the RSS is not what they claim to be, that they are actually attacking the idea of India and that the only force that can defend the idea of India, is the only Party that belongs to and thinks about the whole country.”

Over 4,100 government employees were booked in corruption cases registered by the CBI in the last three years, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has informed that 1,767 corruption cases have been registered against 4,123 public servants during 2016, 2017 and 2018, he said in a written reply.

Of the 1,767 cases, charge sheets were filed in 900 cases, regular departmental action was recommended in 59 cases and 89 cases were closed or disposed of, the minister said.

Out of the 900 cases in which charge sheets were filed, 19 cases ended in conviction, nine in acquittal and four cases have been discharged or disposed of, Singh said in Lok Sabha.

Opposition leaders including West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Sharad Yadav, SP's Ram Gopal Yadav and RLD's Trilok Tyagi at AAP's 'Tanashahi Hatao, Loktantra Bachao' rally.

“The citizenship bill is an example of Modi’s dictatorial policy. I will never make any compromise with the BJP, said former Arunachal chief minister Gegong Apang at opposition rally.

“In West Bengal, CBI tried to arrest a sitting police commissioner. Two RBI governors had to leave the institution. This is the extent of dictatorship”, said Ram Gopal Yadav.

“Farmers have been cheated by Modi govt, under Modi’s raj, gods are safe, Dalits aren’t,” said Kolhapur MP Raju Shetti, a key leader of the farmers’ protest.

“I bring the good wishes and support of my party leader MK Stalin and DMK to all leaders here. We will work together to overthrow this fascist regime. PM says mahagathbandhan is coming together to protect themselves from him. Yes, we are here to protect ourselves, and our country from your dictatorship. This government has to go once for all if India needs to be saved,” said DMK leader Kanimozhi at Opposition rally organised by AAP in Delhi.

The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) Wednesday questioned the "timing and intent" behind creation of a separate administrative division for the Ladakh region, asking as to why it was done during the President's rule.

JKNPP Chairman Harsh Dev Singh also asked who had demanded for divisional status to Ladakh and who were its beneficiaries.

"We question the urgency in creation of third division for Ladakh in the state during President's rule. The helmsman are answerable to the people of the state over the timing and intent behind such a major decision taken in extreme haste," he told reporters here.

The people of Leh had been demanding union territory status and the central leadership of the BJP had during 2014 elections assured to fulfil their demand, he said.

"Having failed to fulfil the genuine aspirations of the people of Ladakh, the central government had played a dangerous game of dividing the people on religious and ethnic lines for political gains which could prove disastrous for a sensitive state like J&K," Singh said.

“Demonetisation wiped out businesses of crores, have never seen a government that lies so much. They promised to clean Ganga, bring jobs, implement Swaminathan report on farmers. They made 42 main promises, but they are doing something else

Anybody in opposition be it Mamta Banerjee or anybody else, they [the government] don’t spare anyone; CBI was never this caged,” said Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) chief Sharad Yadav.

“They say temple will be made; yes it will be made but it is sub judice. We will have to throw this government into the Yamuna and Ganga

Unemployment will no more be a problem if this government goes,” he further said.

Congress NCP alliance almost sealed. Negotiations for 2-3 seats will be done in next round of meeting: Sources

Nobody should think of becoming PM, first thing is to throw this govt out, says former J&K chief minister and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah

The CBI on Wednesday allowed Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to return to Kolkata after questioning him for five consecutive days in connection with chit fund scam cases, an official said.

A team of 12 senior CBI officers examined Kumar for his alleged role in tampering of evidences in the Rs 2,000 crore Saradha chit fund scam, which the agency is probing.

Kumar was also questioned about the Rose Valley ponzi scam.

After examining him for over 30 hours since Saturday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday afternoon allowed the senior IPS officer to return to Kolkata, said the official.

On Wednesday, he had arrived at the CBI office around 9.30 am and he was let off around 12:30 pm, he said.

According to official sources, the Kolkata Police chief had written to the probe agency seeking a "break" as he is required to prepare a reply to the contempt petition filed by the CBI against him and two other senior officers in the Supreme Court.

Kumar left for Guwahati from where he is scheduled to fly to Kolkata.

Two other senior Kolkata Police officers who had been with Kumar since Saturday also left with him, sources said.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Congress was defeating the BJP in the ideological fight and in the daily news cycle and said that the party MPs had fought "animosity and unfairness" over the last five years.

Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting, the last such meeting of the 16th Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said the party was now firmly entrenched in the minds of the people. He accused the Modi government of "systematic attacks" on institutions and causing divisions in the society.

Rahul Gandhi also said that the Congress stood out among other opposition parties.

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Wednesday staged a protest against Lt Governor Kiran Bedi outside her official residence.

Wearing a black shirt and black dhoti, Narayanasamy sat outside the Raj Nivas to protest her preventing the implementation of his government's welfare schemes.

He was joined by his ministerial colleagues and DMK lawmakers.

Narayanasamy also accused Bedi of interfering in the day-to-day activities of the government.

His protest came after Bedi hit the road two days back and advised two-wheeler owners to wear helmets.

While Bedi wanted the helmet rule for two-wheeler riders to be implemented at one go, Narayanasamy wanted the implementation in phases.

Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in Delhi said, “We are in danger, we have to protect this nation, democracy is under threat. If all of us are not united, this is the last election for all of us, tomorrow there won't be any election.”

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Wednesday dismissed the CAG report on the controversial Rafale deal as "neither complete nor fully correct" and charged that constitutional bodies in the country were not been able to work with full honesty.

"It (the CAG report) is neither complete nor fully correct in the eyes of public," Mayawati said in a statement issued here.

She suggested the report was prepared under some kind of pressure. "Why constitutional bodies are under stress (and) not been able to work with full honesty. The country is worried," she said.

The BSP chief said the the BJP government has not been able to induct a single Rafale fighter jet in the Indian Air Force.

"Is it the BJP's (idea of) service of national interest and serving national security?," she asked.